GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
For Students Entering 9^th Grade in September 2003

Required Subject Areas	Regents Diploma Units	Advanced Regents Diploma Units
English	4	4
Social Studies	4	4
Global History	2 units
American History	1 unit
Economics	1/2 unit
Participation in Gov't	1/2 unit
Science	3(a)	3(a)
Mathematics	3(a)	3(a)
Art	1/2	1/2
Music	1/2	1/2
Second Language	1	(b)
Health / Physical Education	2 1/2	2 1/2
Physical Education	2 units
Health	2 units
Elective Areas	3 1/2	4 1/2 (b)
Total	22	22

*A unit of credit is earned upon successful completion of a one-year course. A half unit of credit is earned upon successful completion of a six-month course. The minimum passing grade is 65.


REGENTS REQUIREMENTS
The New York State Regents Program shall be administered as mandated by the State. In order to graduate, students are required to pass each of the following Regents examinations with a score of 65: Comprehensive English, Global History and Geography, Mathematics, Science and U.S. History and Government. The Advanced Regents Diploma requires these additional Regents: a language other than English^b a second science, and a second math.

(a) Students may meet the learning standards in technology, either through a course in technology education or through an integrated course combining technology with mathematics and/or science. A commencement-level course in technology may be used as the third unit of credit in science or mathematics, but not both.

(b) Only those students completing a sequence of not less than five (5) units of credit in Career & Technology Education (CTE) or the Arts may substitute another 3-unit or 5-unit sequence in place of a language other than English (LOTE).


INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES
Awarding of an IEP Diploma:
Upon application of a student or his/her parents, an IEP diploma may be awarded to a student who has completed 12 years of schooling excluding kindergarten and who has achieved the educational goals in the current individual education program (IEP). However, the diploma must be presented with a statement of assurance that the recipient is eligible to attend the public high schools until the student has earned a high school diploma or until the end of the school year in which the student's twenty-first birthday occurs, whichever is earlier. During the school year in which a student's twenty-first birthday occurs, an IEP diploma shall be awarded to a student who has achieved the educational goals specified in his/her current individualized education program.


ATTENDANCE
Success Begins Here

Everything a student should know about attendance - in school, at work, and even at play, ATTENDANCE AND PUNCTUALITY are important!

Whenever you are absent or cut a class, you fall behind in your work. Before you know it, everything you missed starts to snowball and you will soon be buried over your head in failure. This is bad news because ABSENCE, LATENESS, AND CUTTING will hurt your opportunity for promotion, graduation, involvement in extracurricular activities as well as your future chance of getting a good job.

Attendance Guidelines - Clearly, you can avoid disappointment and problems by following these simple guidelines:

1. Attendance - You must be in class or you will miss important material.
• Students are expected to be present each school day.
• Students must bring in a doctor's note or a signed note from home after an absence.
• You should have the telephone number of a classmate in each of your classes to receive assignments during your absence.
• Remember, your subject grade reflects a number of factors, such as test grades, homework, class participation, effort and attendance.
• Regardless of the reason for the absence, all class work, assignments, and projects must be made up.


2. Lateness
• Students should leave early enough to arrive at school on time.
• Students should go directly from one class to the next. Do not hang out during the change of period.
• Students who are detained by a faculty member should bring a written note from them excusing their lateness.
• Teachers will not wait for latecomers to start the class. Quite often, your teacher will begin the lesson with a quiz, homework review, do-now, lead-in activity, or similar work. When you miss this work, your grade is affected.


3. Cutting
• Cutting class can lead to failure as well as to other problems.
• You may not leave the school building at any time during your school day. Outside patrols by school officials and security personnel will be conducted daily. Student offenders will be disciplined and their parents notified. Police will issue summonses to those students found outside the building, whether they are loitering or sitting on the steps of a neighboring home.
• Loitering outside of school can be unsafe.

1. Develop good study habits. Remember, the grades you receive in the ninth grade do count as part of your overall average for college.
2. Meet with your guidance counselor to plan your program and discuss your progress. Aim to take challenging courses and get involved in special programs. This is an important factor for gaining admittance to the college of your choice.
3. Use your free time before school and during school to attend tutoring sessions.
4. Get to know the assistant principals, the programs that are offered in their respective departments and, if possible, perform school service in these various offices.

1. Continue studying hard, take challenging courses, join clubs and teams, and volunteer for school service.
2. Begin preparing for the Preliminary Scholastic Assessment test (PSAT), a pre-test for the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT), which you will take in the fall of your junior year.

1. Plan to take the PSAT in the fall and your first SAT in the spring.
2. Sign up for a college interview in the spring with the college counselor.
3. Remember, your academic average, which is based on your 9th, 10th, and 11th grades, is computed at the end of your junior year.
4. Visit colleges during your vacation times, speak to representatives at college fairs, write away for college catalogues, and view books in preparation for choosing the colleges to which you will be applying.

1. Set up an interview with the college counselor.
2. Read all college bulletins distributed by the college office.
3. Remember, application deadlines for colleges are real!
4. Plan to take your second SAT in the fall.
5. Continue doing well and take challenging courses. Colleges will request a mid-year grade report prior to making an acceptance decision. College admissions officers want to see that you are consistent even though your ranked academic average has already been established.
6. Pick up and file financial aid forms.